Velocipede



May 1, 1923.

C. LATHER VELOCIPE'DE Filed Oct. 18 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I far Carl L0: The!" mwm c. LATHER VELOCIPEDE May 1, 1923.

Filed Oct, 18, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fli s May 1, 1923. 1,453,469

c. LATHER v VELOC IPEDE Filed Oct. 18, 1921" 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 X M in 55425 I In Men Z'ar v I 6a a May 1, 1923.

C. LATHER VELOCIVPEDE' 1921 4 Sheet- -Sheet 4 Filed Oct l8 Ina/l en $01 Carl Lat'her Patented .May 1, 1923.

IT a F sir as.

rarenrrr s.

, CABL LgTI-IEB, or C ICAGO, Innrnors, Assronoa or ONE-HALF TO FRANK JOSEPH, or

emcee-o, rnnrnors.

vnnocrrnnn.

Application filed October 18, 1921. Serial' No. 508,492.

To all 10110132 it may concern Beit known that I, CARL LATHER, a citizencf the United States, anda resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements inkvelocipedes andihas for its principal object the provision of an im-. provedconstruction of this character which willbe highly: etiicient in use.

' A further object of myimproved construction is the provision of a velocipede constructed so as to accomn'iodaterone or more passengers by meanslof a simple adjustment embodied in the invention? and which adjustment can be readily made by the average child. The structure'ofthe ad justment is of such a simple construct-ion that the cost of manufacturewill not be greatly increasedover thecost of manufacturing a velocipede to accommodate asingle passenger.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. v v

The invention consists'in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described'and claimed:

The invention will behest understood by :39 reference to the accompanying drawings the same forming a part of this'specificat'ion, and in which, 1

1 is a side el'evational view of the invent-ion. y

i Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same,v

Fig. 3 is a sectionaldeta'il'View of the adjustable shaft embodied in the invention and taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1, Fig. 1 is a fragmentarybottom plan view of'the'front end of the invention, 7

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of the invention taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, I

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional View of taken substantially on line 6-6"of Fig. 1', and s v Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substan tially on line'T-TqfFig. 6.

The preferred for f construction, as illustrated inthe drawings, comprises a main body member 10 having ahood=11 rigidly fixed adjacent the frontend thereof,- the shape of said 'hood'gbeing formed sent an autoinobi'le-.motor hood. The body member 10 and the hood 11 are formedfrom to repre-:

wood of any character which willserve the purpose. Slidably mountedonthe, opposite sides of the main body n emberiare side body memberslQ and 13, the front ends ofwhich are arranged to snugly fit into a recess 14.- provided in the. hood 11, said side body 11181111 bers being held in.s,pace.direlationjwith respect, to each other by space blocks 1 1 secured to the adjacent sides of said members.- When the side'body members 12'and13are adjustedin their extreme rearwardposition, the front end portion 15,.is supported'in-the recess 141 by the bottom portion 16 of the hood 11 as. clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The adjustability ofjthe body members 12 and '13 is governedby a trans versely extending nut receivingbolt 1-7 'per-,

manently fixedfon the main body member 10 adjacentthe rear end thereof, and which engages longitudinally extending slots 18 formed in each of the side body members 12 and 13.. Rigidly secured to the bottom'mernber 16 ofthe hoodll, adjacent the front end thereof, by any suitable means, is a bearing member '19 having a. longitudinally extend-i ing recess 20 formed'in its outer face." The bearingmember 19 is preferably formed of woodand provided with a rea'rwardly extended portion 21* integrally formed-therewith and which serves to c'heclt the strainof the bearing member when-the velocipede is in motion, as will be readily understood. Mounted in the recess 20 and secured to the bearing member 19 by means ofa bolt'QO, is an axle 22 extending transversely with respect to the body members of the veloeipede,

said axle being mounted on'wheels :23 24::

which are swin'gingly mounted adjacent the outer ends thereof by means of stud axles'25. The wheels 23 and 2 1- are held in operative position "on the stud axles .25 by means of a suitable lock nut 25 threaded on'the outer ends of each of the stud axles. 25. The rear end'of the velocipede is supported by a'trans; versely extendingaxle 26 by means of curved supporting members 27 and 28 rigidly fixed to the adjustable side body members 12 and 13-by means of nut 'receiving bolts 29, said supports having. b'earingsBO formed integral: therewith adjacent the" lower ends thereof and through which the axle 26isjournalled,

Mounted on the axle 26 are wheels 31 and 32 of the same'chara'cter as the wheels 23" and 2 1,-saidwvhee'ls also being held in operative position'on-the axle 26' by means of suitable lock nuts As shown in Fig. 1 I have provided mud guards or fenders 34 and 35 positioned adjacent the tops of each of the wheels, said fenders being formed of sheet metal or the like. The rear fenders are supported in position by U-shaped supports 36 fixedly secured to the supporting members 27' and 28 and the front fenders 35 are supported in position by brackets 37 which are fixedly secured to the hood 11.

The seating arrangement embodied in the invention oomprises a main seat member 38 which is adjustably mounted on the main body member 10. The adjustable means comprises a stud shaft 39 rigidly fixed to the bottom of the seat member 38 and slid ably mounted in a vertical extending bore 40 formed through the body member 10 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. A number of equally spaced bores 41 are formed in the stud shaft 39 for the reception ofan adustable pin 41 which engages a recess 42, formed in the body member 10, when supporting the seat member in the desired posi tion. To prevent the pin 41 from cutting or digging into the main body member 10, 1 preferably provide a metallic washer 43 interposed between the pin 42 and the main body member 10. By adjusting the pin 42 in the various bores 41, the seat member can be lowered or raised to accommodate the size of a child. The rear seating arrangement comprises a seat member 44 hingedly connected to a supporting member 45 which is pivotally mounted on the side body members 12 and 13 by means of a bolt 46. The forward edge of the seat member 44 when in operative position rests upon the side body members as at 47 1) and is prevented from collapsing by means of a transversely positioned supporting block 48 fixedly secured to the seat support 45 and engaging the edges of the side body members 12 and 13 as at 49 (Fig. 1). This arrangement is such that when only one passenger occupies the velocipede the seat support is swung in a forward direction, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the seat member 44 engages a recess 50 provided in the front seat member 38. After this operation has been accomlished. the side members 12 and 13 are then moved into their extreme forward position thus converting the velocipede into a single passenger velocipede. A slot 51 is formed in the front edge of the seat member 44 and extends rearwardly well into the body there of, in alignment with thestud shaft 39 so as to allow the stud shaft to pass into the slot when the seat member engages'the recess in its extreme forward position. When the side body members 12 and 13 are in their extreme forward position the nut carried by bolt 17 is tightened so as to prevent the side body members from moving backwards when the velocipede is in motion. A foot rest 52 is secured to the side body members by means of wood screws or the like, and so positioned that the occupant of the rear seat can conveniently rest his or her feet thereon.

The steering mechanism as illustrated in the drawings comprises oppositely disposed segment hand wheels 53 fixedly mounted on the upper end of steering rod 54 which extends downwardly through a bore formed in the main body member 10. The steering rod 54 is held in the proper position by means of a collar 55 which rests upon a wooden bearing 56 secured to the main body member 10 as shown in Fig. 1. The lower end of the steering rod 54 is pivotally connected to a connecting link 57 by means of a pin 58, saidv connecting link being slidably mounted through a lug 59 fixedly secured to the central portion of a V-shaped steering rod 60. The outer ends of the V-shaped steering rod 60 are connected to the stud axles 25 by means of'an arm 61 integrally formed on each of the stud shafts 25 extending substantially at right angles with re spect thereto, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. As will be readily understood, by turning the steering wheel in the desired direction, the wheels 23 and 24, through the medium of the steering rods, will be caused to turn in the direction in which the steering wheel is turned.

The means for. applying motive power to the wheels 31 comprises a transversely arranged shaft 62 journalled through bearings 63 integrally formed on the lower ends of a U-shaped bracket 64 which is fixedly secured to the main body member 10 by means of wooden screws 65 or the like as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings. Mounted on each end of the shaft 62 are foot pedals 66 and 67 of the usual construction. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 62 between the limbs 68 of the U-shaped bracket 64 is a face gear 69 which meshes with a pinion 7O fixedly mounted on the inner end of a hollow shaft section 71 which extends longitudinally with respect to the body members. The inner end of the shaft 71 is supported by a bracket 72 which is fixedly secured to the U-shaped bracket 64. Slidably mounted in the hollow shaft section 71 is a second shaft section 73 which together with the hollow shaft 71 constitutes a main shaft. The shaft section 7 3 is provided with a flattened portion 74 extending the entire length thereof and which serves as a seat for the adjustable bolts 75 which rigidly hold the two shaft sections together when in the desired adjusted position. The rear end of the shaft sect-ion 73 is supported by a bracket 76 which is fixedly secured to the supporting member 27. Fixedly mounted on the extreme rear end of the shaft section 73 is a bevelled gear 77 which meshes with a co-opera-ting bevelled gear 7 S fixedly mounted on the rear axle 26. By this shaft section 71.

arrangement motive-power is transmitted to the rear axle by manually operating the foot pedals (56 and 6'7. By dividingthe main shaft into two shaft sections, as disclosed-in the drawings, the adjustable side body members 12 and 13when moved to their. extreme forward or rearward position the rear wheels 31 and 32will naturally. move in unison therewith, as well= as the shaft section 73 which is slidably mounted in the hollow When the shaft sections are properly in the adjusted position, the bolts 7 5 are tightened, thus serving to rigidly connect the shafts together.

From the foregoing description, one will be able to readily understand the operation of my improved velocipede and by carefully following the description, one is enabled to convert the velocipede into a. single-seated or double-seated velocipede.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this. is capableof variation and modification without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but" desire to avail'myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims. I

l laving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure-by Letters Patent is: i

1. A vehicle. of the-class. described com prising adjustable axle bearing body sections; wheelson said axle; means for transmitting motivepower to said wheels; means for governing the direction of travel of said wheels; seat members mounted on said body, one of said seat members being pivotally mountedon one of said body sections; and a. recess formed in the other of said seat members for the reception of the piyotally mounted seat member, substantially. as described.

2. A vehicle of the class described comprising an axle bearing body section; an adjustable axle bearing body section embracing said first-mentioned body section; wheels on said axles; a manually operated drive shaft on said body sections; abevelledgear on one end of said shaft; a co-operating bevelled gear on one of said axles meshing with said first-mentioned gear; seat members on said body sections, one of said seat members being pivotally mounted on one of said bQdy sec-- tions; a recess formed in the other of said seat members for the reception of'the pivotally mounted seat member; and means for governing the direction of travel of said vehicle, substantially as described.

8. A velocipede comprising an axle bearing body section; a second axle bearing body section embracing the opposite sides of said first-mentioned body section, said second a recess formed in said first mentioned seat member" for the reception of saidpivotally mounted seat member, substantially as described;

4. A velocipedecomprising an axle bear.-: ing body section; a second axle bearing body section embracing said first-mentioned bodysection andv adjustable longitudinally with respect thereto; means for fixedly securing said body sections in the desired adjusted position; seat memberszon said body sections; wheels 'on' the axles carried by said I body'sections; a depending U-shaped support mounted on saidfirst-mentioned bod section; a manually operated. shaft journalledon said support; a face gear on said shaft; an adjustable drive shaft. supported by said U-shaped support and said secondmentioned body section andoperatively connected to one of said axles; and a pinion on said drive shaft meshing with said iface gear, substantially as described.

5. A velocipede comprising anaxle bear; ing body section; a second axle bearing body section surrounding said first-mentionecl body section; a vertically adjustableseat meinb r on said first-mentioned body section; a seat member support pivotally mounted on said second-mentioned body secion tion; a seat member hingedly connected to said support; a recess formedin said firstmentioned seat member forthereception of said hingedly mounted seat member; wheels on the axles carried bysaid body sections; a depending U -shaped support, mounted on said firstementioned body section; a manually operated shaft journalled ,on said support; a face gear on said shaft; an adjustable drive shaft supported by said U-shaped support and said second-mentioned body section and op'erativelyv connected to one of said axles; and a pinion on said drive shaft meshing with saidfa'ce gear, substantially as described. v

6. A velocipede comprising a wheeled body; seat members on said body, one of said seat membersbeing pivotally mounted on said body; a depending U'shaped' support mounted on said body; a manually operated shaft journalled on said support; an adjustable driving shaft supported by said U- shaped support and'said body; operative connections between said manually operated shaft and said driving shaft; andoperative connections between said driving shaft and said wheels, substantially as described.

7. A velocipede comprising wheeled body sections; seat memberson said body sections; means for governing the direction of travel of said body sections; a depending Ushaped support mounted. on one of said sections; a manually operated transversely extending shaft journalled on said U-shaped support; a face gear mounted on said shai't; a hollow shait section supported by said U-shaped support; a pinion on said hollow shaft mesh ing with said face gear; a shai't section slidably mounted in said hollow shaft section and supported by one of said body sections; operative connections between said slidably mounted shaft section and said. wheels; and means for rigidly securing said shaft sec tions in. the desired adjust-able position substantially as described.

8. A velocipede including a wheeled body a seat member pivotally mounted on said body; a seat member on Said body adjacent said first named seat member and having a recess formed therein for the reception of said first named seat member when not in use. 7

9. A velocipede including wheeled body members mountedfor longitudinal adjustment, a seat member pivotally mounted on said body, a seat member on said body adjacent said first named seat member and having a recess formed therein for the reception of said first named seat member when not in use.

10. A velocipede including a body comprising parts mounted for longitudinal adjustment; a pivotally mounted seat member on one of said parts, an adjustable seat mem her on the other of said parts having a recess formed therein for the reception of the other of said seat members, wheels on said parts, and means for transmitting motive power to said wheels comprising foot operated means and a drive shaft in operative connection with said wheels and comprising parts mounted for longitudinal adjustment.

11. A velocipede comprising a body member; a*-hood having recesses formed therein at one end of said body member; body members disposed on opposite sides of said first named body member and having registering slots formed therein and having end portions engaging the recesses of said hood;

a member carried by said first named body member and extending through said slots to permit longitudinal adjustment of said body members; wheels carried by said body members; and adjustable driving means operatively connected to said wheels.

12. A velocipede comprising a body member; a hood having recesses formed therein at one end of said body member; body members disposed on opposite sides of said first named body member and having registering slots formed therein and having end portions engaging the recesses of said hood; a member carried by said first named body member and extending through said slots to permit longitudinal adjustment of said body members; wheels carried by said body members; adjustable driving means operatively connected to said wheels; and seat members adjustably carried by said body members.

13. A velocipede comprising wheel bearing body member; wheel bearing body mem bers disposed on opposite sides of said first named ,body member and provided with registering slots, said body members being adapted to be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other; a member carried by said first named body member and passing through said slots for securing said body members in the desired adjustable position.

14. A velocipede comprising a wheel bearing body member; wheel bearing body members disposed on opposite sides of said first named body member and provided with registering slots, said body members being adapted to be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other; a member carried by said first named body member and passing through said slots for securing said body members in the desired adjustable position; and seat members adj ustably carried by said body members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL LATHER.

\Vitnesses JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs, CLARENCE E. THREEDY. 

